MiG-29: Updates & Discussions

With Russia, MOD keeps on placing piecemeal orders. It fits into MOD's way of functioning, that is allocating money from annual budget.

Rafale represents an upfront long term commitment. My view is that delay in ordering Rafale is nothing but a planning problem.

If IAF allocation does not go up significantly in the next five years, I have difficulty how MOD will find the money for Rafale, while supporting other programs at the same time. Please remember that the current programs like ones with USA (C-17, C-130 etc.) also have to be paid for.

now i can say wikipedia was not wrong. INdia will surely go for 4-5 CBGs in future. but this will happen after2030

by the way can you provide a credible link for existance of IAC-3. i want to show it to [MENTION=6078]Vritra[/MENTION]

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You guys are running too hard. Do not expect another Carrier (after Vikrant) before 2027. There may be a very brief period when Vikrant, Viraat, and Vikramaditya - all three are available in 2018-19. Then Viraat will go and two will be left.

A Carrier is a very serious expense. I see no way India can afford even three at this time.

Each carrier with air group will cost between 4-5B USD, and another 200M annually.

Prasun Sengupta says this is not TopSight/Divya Dristhi, but the upgraded SURA-K.

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It's not clearly visible from this angle, but it definitely looks different from the helmets the Russian pilots uses, when they did the testflights in Russia.

So the question now is, was that pic shot in Russia in one of the last test flights? If yes, it could be an upgraded Russian helmet. But if it was shot in India and all the pics from Russia only showed different helmets, it is more likely to be a testflight to integrate the Samtel helmet.
By the fact that we use the same on Mig 29Ks, my bet is on Divya Dristhi!